Northampton car park floods after mains water pipe under pavement outside is crushed by 'heavy vehicle'

A Northampton car park has partly flooded today after a mains water pipe on the road outside was severely damaged.

A steady stream of water is bubbling out of a slab of damaged pavement on St Michael's Road and is running downhill into St Michael's car park.

The leak reportedly sprung up at around 10.45am today (May 18).

The cause of the damage is still under investigation - but an Anglian Water engineer at the scene told the Chronicle & Echo it was likely caused by a heavy vehicle such as an HGV or a bin lorry mounting the pavement.

Meanwhile, a row of spaces in nearby St Michael's car park has been cordoned off by the council.

The car park's drains are handling the flood water well.

A borough council worker at the scene said: "The leak has subsided substantially. Earlier today it was three times what it is now."

Northampton Borough Council has been contacted for a comment.

Anglian Water is at the scene. An update on the company's incident webpage says they aim to repair the leak by the end of today.